Microscopy in food analysis: a review

Oliveira, Ludilaine Barreto Fiuza de; Carvalho, Gustavo Paim de; Silva, Giulia Amarante de Almeida Mussi da; Guimarães, André Luis Alcantara

doi:10.1590/2175-7860202475030

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Plant anatomy: history and future directions • Rodriguésia 75 • 2024 • https://doi.org/10.1590/2175-7860202475030 copy

Microscopy in food analysis: a review

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Abstract

The concern with food safety has been discussed since the end of the 19th century to improve its quality. The microscopic identification of plant species used in natura or in the elaboration of food products is extremely relevant because it is fast and satisfactory to characterize food composition and plant contaminants. Microscopy also allows evaluations of the hygienic quality of food, making it possible to observe physical, biological, and microbiological contaminants. Although it is an low-cost method compared to other chemical or molecular methodology, it relies on the expertise and knowledge of the analyst, especially in plant anatomy since it is a method that is mainly based on the identification of food products by comparison. Thus, this review aims to summarize studies related to the use of plant anatomy and the future perspectives of associations with other analytical methods for plant quality control. Therefore, this review is structured in two main topics: plant anatomy under light microscopy in food analysis and plant anatomy under microscopy associated with other methods.

Key words:
electron microscopy; food control; light microscopy; plant anatomy

Reference	Summary	Concluding remarks
*Kerkvliet et al.* (1995**Kerkvliet JD, Shrestha M, Tuladhar K & Manandhar H (1995) Microscopic detection with cane sugar and cane sugar products. Apidologie 26: 131-139.)	Adulteration of honey with cane sugar and cane sugar products	The microscopic procedures are suitable for quality control of honey
*Correia et al.* (2000**Correia M, Daros VSMG & Silva RP (2000) Matérias estranhas em canela em pó e páprica em pó, comercializadas no estado de São Paulo. Food Science Technology 20. DOI: 10.1590/S0101-20612000000300016 https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-2061200000... )	Samples of powdered cinammon (Cinnamomum spp.) and paprika (Capsicum annuum L.): plant and other biological contaminants	Method evaluated as satisfactory, adequate and feasible to be used in food microscopy laboratories
Dimov et al. (2004)	Otimization of the methods regarding wheat flour	The suggested method is satisfactory for the extraction of contaminants from the samples
*Rodrigues et al.* (2005**Rodrigues RMMS, Martini MH, Chiarini PFT & Prado SPT (2005) Matérias estranhas e identificação histológica em manjerona (Origanum majorana L.), orégano (Origanum vulgare L.) e salsa (Petroselinum sativum Hoffim.), em flocos, comercializados no estado de São Paulo. Revista do Instituto Adolfo Lutz 64: 25-30.)	Anatomical traits of Origanum majorana L. Origanum vulgare L. and Petroselinum sativum Hoffim	Satisfactory microscopic analyses for histological identification of the condiments and investigation of contaminants
Prado et al. (2005)	Wheat flour and products: biological contaminants	Methods evaluated as satisfactory for the identification of contaminants and microorganisms.
Souza et al. (2005)	Samples of beans and corn: biological contaminants	Methods evaluated as satisfactory for the identification of contaminants
*Mendes et al.* (2007**Mendes MRO, Quadri MB & Quadri MGN (2007) Matérias estranhas em erva-mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil) beneficiada no estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil. Revista do Instituto Adolfo Lutz 5: 103-107.)	Samples of Ilex paraguariensis St Hil: biological contaminants	Methods evaluated as satisfactory for the identification of contaminants and evidence of frauds
Sousa & Carneiro (2008Sousa RS & Carneiro JGM (2008) Pesquisa de sujidades e matérias estranhas em mel de abelhas (Apis mellifera L.) Food Science Technology 28: 32-33.)	Bee honey samples (Apis mellifera L.): biological contaminants	Methods evaluated as satisfactory for the identification of contaminants
Daros et al. (2010)	Woody fragments and soybeans in coffee, wheat starch, and biological contaminants	Microscopic analyses as satisfactory, serving as a subsidy to the actions of the Food Surveillance
Prado et al. (2010)	Fragments of Opuntia ficus-indica L. as contaminants	The microscopic methods were evaluated as satisfactory for the histological identification by image comparison, requiring expertise of the analyst
*Pospiech et al.* (2014**Pospiech M, Petrášová M, Tremlová B & Randulová Z (2014) Detection of native starches in meat products using histochemical lugol calleja method. Potravinarstvo 8: 77-81.)	Native starch in meat products detected by histochemical Lugol	The method is suitable for determination of native starch in meat products, in combination with staining of other food stuffs ingredient
*Lagerstrom et al.* (2015**Lagerstrom R, Holt K, Arzhaeva Y, Bischof L, Haberle S, Hopf F & Lovell D (2015) Pollen image classification using the classifynder system: algorithm comparison and a case study on New Zealand honey. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 823: 207-226.)	Pollen classification using algorithm comparison	The method is suitable for accelerating the acquisition and analysis of pollen samples.
Santos & Abrantes (2015Santos JM & Abrantes SMP (2015) Presença de matérias estranhas em erva-doce, (Pimpinella anisum L.). Vigilância Sanitária em Debate 3: 120-127.)	Samples of Pimpinella anisum L.: plant adulterants detected by microscopy	Satisfactory for the identification of histological elements of other plant species, suggesting fraud and flaws in good manufacturing practices
*Mendes et al.* (2016**Mendes LC, Santos JCF, Correa JÁ, Alkimim JFF, Silva DVR, Jesus LN & Dibai WLS (2016) Validação de método para determinação das impurezas de cascas e paus em café torrado e moído. Brazilian Journal Food Technology 18: e2015092.)	Microscopy in coffee samples to detect plant adulterants and contaminants	The procedure was considered satisfactory for the detection of contaminants and has the potential to be indicated for surveillance agencies
Silva et al. (2019)	Adulterants and contaminants in coffee samples	The procedure was considered satisfactory for the detection of contaminants and has the potential to be indicated for surveillance agencies
*Pauli-Yamada et al.* (2021**Pauli-Yamada LF, Aquino CI, Silva AM, Marciano MAM, Mattos EC & Nogueira MD (2021) Estudo microscópico de páprica (Capsicum annuum L.): detecção de fraudes e matérias estranhas. Vigil Sanit Debate, Rio de Janeiro 9: 123-128. DOI: 10.22239/2317-269x.01431 https://doi.org/10.22239/2317-269x.01431... )	Paprika (Capsicum anuum L.) samples with starch (Zea mays L.) and histological elements of Bixa orellana L.; detection of biological contaminants	The procedure was considered satisfactory for the detection of contaminants suggesting fraud and flaws in good manufacturing practices
Melo et al. (2021)	Starch in Curcuma longa L.	Methods are satisfactory for starch as adulterants in food
*Pospiech et al.* (2021**Pospiech M, Javůrková Z, Hrabec P, Štarha P, Ljasovská S, Bednář J & Tremlová B (2021) Identification of pollen taxa by different microscopy techniques. PLoS ONE 16: e0256808.)	Identification of pollen taxa by different microscopy techniques	The results confirmed the potential of using automatic pollen analysis to discriminate pollen taxa in honey

Reference	Methods	Summary	Concluding remarks
*Amboni et al. (1999*Amboni RDMC, Francisco A & Teixeira E (1999) Utilização de microscopia eletrônica de varredura para detecção de fraudes em café torrado e moído. Food Science and Technology 19: 311-313. )	Light microscopy and SEM	Detection of corn and wheat starch in coffee samples	Scanning electron microscopy as a fast and efficient method in the identification of starch, suggesting the use by the surveillance agencies.
*Joshi et al. (2007*Joshi VC, Avula B & Khan IA (2007) Authentication of Stephania tetrandra S. Moore (Fang Ji) and differentiation of its common adulterants using microscopy and HPLC analysis. Journal of Natural Medicines 62: 117-121.)	Light microscopy and HPLC	Authentication of Stephania tetrandra under microscopy and associated methods to differ from Aristolochia fangchi, Cocculus orbiculatus and Sinomenium acutum	Emphasis on the difficulty of proper anatomical identification in powdered and fragmented samples.
Miranda et al. (2019)	SEM and XRD	Morphological and structural analyses of starch (raw and cooked) from 2 species of beans	Emphasis on the possibility of observing differences in starch through these methods - quickly and efficiently.
Anversa et al. (2020)	Microbiological methods (AOAC) and microscopy.	Tomato-based products: biological contaminants	The findings showed the lack of good manufacturing practices to protect the health and rights of consumers.
*Ichim et al. (2020*Ichim MC, Häser A & Nick P (2020) Autenticação microscópica de produtos fitoterápicos comerciais no mercado globalizado: potencial e limitações. Frontiers in Pharmacology 11: 876.)	Review of Multiple methods	Analyzes of different herbal traditional products	Evidence of the applicability of microscopy in the identification and characterization of plant species.
Ferreira et al. (2021)	Review of Multiple methods	Advances on coffee analyses with different methods	Despite the existence of studies, there is still a lack of a sensitive and widely applicable methodology, capable of taking into account the various aspects of adulteration.
*Assis et al. (2020*Assis NM, Marques CA & Silva MC (2020) Avaliação microscópica de amostras comerciais de café. Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional 27: 1-13.)	Light microscopy and SEM (EDS)	Coffee samples by SEM (EDS): detection of plant adulterants and other fragments	All brands with adulterants. However, the use of SEM in this matrix has not been widespread due to the pre-treatment of the sample, the cost and availability of the equipment.
Bartlová et al. (2022)	Light microscopy and photometric titration	Detection and quantification of carrageenan in jelly candies with lectin histochemistry and photometric titration	Both methods are well applicable to transparent jellies. However, highly turbid suspensions of milk and chocolate components disturb the optical signal during photometric titration.

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[1] * Author for correspondence:
andreguimaraes@pharma.ufrj.br